RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDING VARIOUS ACTIONS TO IMPROVE RENTAL HOUSING USE IN THE
CITY.

BY
COUNCILOR REINERT:

WHEREAS, citizens
have expressed concern about the growth of unlicensed and noninspected
rental housing in recent years; and

WHEREAS, Councilor
Reinert convened a citizens' advisory committee to address the issue;
and

WHEREAS, that
committee as met, investigated, deliberated and reported; and

WHEREAS, the
committee has produced several recommendations.

NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the city council requests of the administration and
recommends that the following actions be undertaken and implemented:(a)
That the planning department and its community development division establish
what constitutes a health ratio of homeowner/rental use in neighborhoods
throughout the city, and develop such language suitable for the City Codedevelop and implement policies
that encourage home ownership throughout the city and particularly in
neighborhoods with less than 60 percent home ownership;(b)
That the planning department, its community development division and the
planning commission proactively identify and rezone appropriate new parcels
and areas for multifamily use, and bring this to the council for enactment
as a change in the zoning ordinance;(c)
That the city council in consultation with the police department division
develop a nuisance ordinance
andstrict enforcement
policies for current ordinances
that will improve enforcement
of neighborhood quality of life standardsthe
quality of life in Duluth's neighborhoods;(d)
That the Duluth housing commission, UMD, Lake Superior College and College
of St. Scholastica identify one or more areas to be established as a studentmarket rate multi-unit
housing district, which could include the downtown district, and then
bring the plan to the planning department and planning commission for
action to provide for such areas in the zoning ordinance;(e)
That the mayor and fire chief assure that there is adequate staff and
resources to enforce the zoning ordinance, the housing code, and all life
safety codes in all parts of the city, and procedures and policies in
effect to effectuate compliance with these laws;(f)
That the parking
commission and police department develop new policies and enforce existing
parking regulations to reduce parking congestion on city streets.

STATEMENT
OF PURPOSE: This resolution sets out the issues and the responsible
parties found by the citizens' committee to be vital in improving the
quality of life in the city by managing the use of rental property.